TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Sophomore guard Chassity Brown scored a career-high 15 points, including six-of-six from the free throw line late in the second half as the Tulane women's basketball team opened the 2007-08 season with a 64-56 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum. Tulane shot 72 percent from the field in the second half, as junior point guard Ashley Langford tied her career-best with 18 points and added three assists.

The Green Wave fell behind early, in a physical slugfest, 13-10 with 7:55 to go in the first half. Lindsey scored five of the Wave's first nine points, with Staidum adding three free throws.

Chassity Brown picked up a steal at midcourt and coasted in for a lay-up to cut the margin to 20-17, before she stole the inbounds pass and found Langford to cut the margin to one with 4:21 to go.

The Wave tied the game 23-23 on free throws from Langford and Philpots. The Tide's Talisha Chandler and the Wave's Tiffany Aidoo traded a pair of free throws, the first two points of her Tulane career for Aidoo, as the game was locked 25-25 at the break.

Tulane shot just 23.1 percent in the first half, 6-of-26, while Alabama faired slightly better at 10-of-28 for 35.7 percent. The Green Wave was aided by an 11-of-14 performance from the free-throw line, but never led in the first half.

The Green Wave opened the second half with buckets from Staidum, Lindsey and Langford. After Brown scored inside, she forced a steal and added a quick lay-up as the Green Wave led 35-31 with 16:52 to go.
Langford beat the shot clock twice, the first off glass with a baseline lay-up and the second while being fouled. The ensuing free throw gave the Wave a 46-35 lead with 13:14 to go.

Luckhurst drained a three over the Alabama zone for Tulane's largest lead, at 51-37. The Crimson Tide, however, answered with a 9-0 run, holding Tulane scoreless for 5:23.

Brown hit four-straight free throws as Tulane nurse the shot clock for a 55-48 lead with 3:28 left. Langford kept it a seven-point lead with a jumper, and Luckhurst blocked a three-point attempt by Camilla Blands. But Blands came right back with a three from the corner, cutting the Tulane lead to 60-56 with 1:10 remaining.

Brown added another pair of free throws, and the Wave endured three straight errant three-point attempts before Brown came away with the rebound and hit another pair of freebies with 5.1 left.
Tulane will open its home slate on Tuesday, November 13, at Fogelman Arena against Georgia Tech. The Green Wave will unveil its 2007 Conference USA Regular Season Championship banner prior to the game, and celebrate its 2006-07 WNIT season.

Live audio of both games can be heard on 88.3 fm. The games will also be streamed live at TulaneGreenWave.com on Tulane Green Wave All-Access. Tuesday's home game with Georgia Tech will also feature live streaming video.

Tickets for the 2007-08 women's basketball home season are available at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Center on Tulane's campus, or by calling (504) 861-WAVE.